Nunn's Chess Endings Volume 1

Book excerpt: In this major two-volume work, renowned endgame theoretician John Nunn teaches the skills that are most important to success in practical endgames. Going beyond standard texts, Dr Nunn shows how to apply knowledge of standard endgames to find the right methods in tricky real-life practical situations - even when they differ greatly from the idealized forms given by traditional endgame manuals. * Identifies new and important motifs which occur repeatedly in over-the-board play * Tactical elements are heavily featured * In many examples, previous analysis is corrected * Focuses on endgames that are susceptible to concrete analysis * Geared to the over-the-board player - no composed or artificial positions * Ideas underlying analysis - however complex - are richly explained in words Nunn shows that lack of familiarity with key ideas can cause important ideas and themes to be missed even by very strong players. We discover that a staggering amount of previously published endgame analysis is simply wrong, and that many of the standard guidelines are at best partially true. This first volume covers general topics and discusses in detail pawn endings, queen endings and minor-piece endings.